A 29th cabinet member, State Fire Marshall Tom Armstead has announced his retirement. Gov. Ryan is nominating Peoria Fire Chief Ernest Russell to serve as the state's top fire service executive. Chief Russell, a more than 33-year veteran of the Peoria Fire Department, has been the chief since 1993. He has a master's degree in public administration from Sangamon State University.

"That the entire cabinet sought reappointment is a testament to their commitment to the work this administration has begun," Gov. Ryan said. "I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to continue to work together to build better, stronger communities for the people of Illinois."

Under Public Act 91-25 passed by the General Assembly in 1999, the Governor can set salaries of up to 85 percent of his salary, currently $145,877 annually. After a comprehensive review of compensation for the cabinet positions, Gov. Ryan proposed increasing the salaries of the department heads commensurate with the mid-range of comparable state, county and municipal agencies. The proposed cabinet salaries were reviewed by the state's Compensation Review Board, which approved the schedule of increases last year.

"We are fortunate to retain these dedicated, diverse and experienced individuals considering that the state's compensation lags behind comparable states and other government agencies," Gov. Ryan said. "This comprehensive compensation restructuring will keep Illinois competitive in attracting the best and brightest people to public service."

Gov. Ryan is also restructuring the compensation of Governor's office senior staff employees, bringing those top executives to the mid-range of comparable state and municipal executives.

The names of the cabinet members, listed below, have been filed for reappointment with the Illinois Senate for advice and consent. The list includes a comparative salary survey of agency directors with similar responsibilities in other states and large units of government.

Department

Director

Salary

Comparable Job Title in Chicago or Cook County or Other States

Salary

Aging

Margo Schreiber

$85,809

Proposed $95,000

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

Commissioner Chicago Department of Aging

STATES:
New York
Florida
California
Pennsylvania
Connecticut
Michigan

$100,000

$109,800
$107,900
$104,500
$103,000
$96,500
$94,900

Agriculture

Joe Hampton

$102,972

Proposed $109,500

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY

:

No Counterpart

STATES:
California
Florida
Colorado
Michigan
New York
New Mexico

$126,358
$120,800
$116,056
$108,000
$104,003
$104,080

CMS

Mike Schwartz

$107,262

Proposed $117,000

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

Chicago General Services person

Cook County Human Resources & Benefits person

Cook County Risk Management & Benefits person

(CMS Director does all of the above)

STATES:
Arizona
Arkansas
Florida

$111,900

$130,306

$116,769

$118,100
$109,945
$107,940

Corrections

Don Snyder

$120,270

Proposed $123,500

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

Cook County Dept. of Corrections Director

Chicago Police Superintendent

STATES:
Texas
New York
California

$114,000

$136,000

$150,000
$136,000
$126,358

DCCA

Pam McDonough

$102,972

Proposed $117,000

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

Chicago Commissioner of Planning & Development

Chicago Commissioner of Cultural Affairs

Chicago Commissioner of Environment

Chicago Technology person

(DCCA Director does a mixture of all the above)

STATES:

Kentucky (Economic Dev.)

Virginia (Economic Dev.)

Arizona (Commerce)

West Virginia (Community Affairs)

$124,998

$106,032

$103,260

$91,068

$140,000

$116,113

$107,133

$105,000

DCFS

Jess McDonald

$108,938

Proposed$123,500

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

No Counterpart in Chicago or Cook County

Private Agency executives salaries provided: RANGE

Catholic Charities Executive Director

Private $7M Agency Director makes

Private $8M Agency Director makes

Private $10M Agency Director makes

Private $12M Agency Director makes

STATES:
Los Angeles County, California
Cayahoga County, Ohio

$100,000-250,000
$100,000
$140,000

$130,000

$156,000

$187,000

$157,000

$130,000

Employment Security

Gertrude Jordan

$111,554

Proposed $117,000

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY

:

No Counterpart

STATES:
California
North Carolina
Texas

$118,514
$117,520
$120,000

EPA

Tom Skinner

$102,972

Proposed $109,500

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

Chicago Commissioner, Dept. of Environment

STATES:
New York
California
Arizona
Texas
Michigan
Florida
Alabama

$103,260

$136,000
$126,358
$115,000
$112,500
$108,054
$107,940
$104,500

Financial Institutions

Sarah Vega

$85,809

Proposed $95,000

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

Chicago Commissioner of Dept. of Consumer Services

STATES:
Minnesota
Arizona
Kentucky

$108,852

$97,300
$92,664
$91,163

Human Rights

Carlos Salazar

$89,243

Proposed $95,000

STATES:

Michigan
New York
Pennsylvania

$114,000
$109,800
$102,631

Human Services

Linda Renee Baker

$120,270

Proposed$123,500

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

Chicago Commissioner of Health & Human Services

Chicago Deputy Managing Commissioner

STATES:
Texas
Florida
New York
Wisconsin

$117,432

$101,544

$150,000
$138,268
$136,000
$135,101

IEMA

Mike Chamness

$83,238

Proposed $95,000

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

Chicago Fire Commissioner

STATES:
New York
Georgia
Michigan

$136,000

$100,253
$95,178
$84,543

Insurance

Nat Shapo

$94,392

Proposed $109,500

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY:

No Counterpart

STATES:
Texas
New York
California
New Jersey
Florida
Virginia
Ohio
North Carolina

As with the analysis done for cabinet compensation, the senior staff changes in compensation were based on comparisons with the pay for other executives in other states and large municipalities like Chicago and Cook County. For example, the Governor's staff compensation restructuring means the chief of staff, who runs the day-to-day operations of state government and manages the more than 65,000 employees
reporting to the governor, will now earn $125,000 annually, up from $114,996. That is 85 percent of the Governor's salary, but still less than the salaries earned by government executives with relatively less responsibility, such as the Cook County Forest Preserve District Superintendent who earns $130,810, and less than comparable jobs in other large units of government.

The restructuring includes the following changes: deputy chief of staff from $105,000 to $117,000; general counsel from $105,000 to $117,000; policy director, from $105,000 to $117,000; deputy governor, from $105,000 to $117,000; press secretary, from $95,000 to $107,500; director of communications, from $97,500 to $107,500; senior policy advisor, from $97,500 to $107,500; performance review director, from $97,500 to $105,000; strategic planning director, $95,000 to $105,000; chief technology officer, from $80,004 to $90,000.